Independent ECPs Rate Managed Vision Plans in New ViewPoint Study

NEW YORK—How do eyecare professionals really feel about managed vision care and the managed vision care plans in which they participate? A new ECP perception study on those issues—including specific evaluations of particular managed vision care plan companies on different criteria—has just been issued by Jobson Research.

The ViewPoint MVC is an internet based study surveying independent optical retailers and professionals, defined as three locations or less. The report illustrates the role managed care plays including reasons why and why not the ECP has decided whether or not to be a provider for standard vision are insurance plans, among other stats. It also compares vision care insurance plans among competitors in performance criteria ranked and rated by ECPs. These range from service issues like efficient claims processing, ease of coverage verification and reimbursement levels for standard plans.

This year’s report has other new methodology and features. Instead of respondents choosing only the plan they think scores the best in each category, they have now been asked to rate each plan for which they offer coverage on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 5 (Excellent) for each performance criteria. This allows for much more detail and analysis. Also, an average score has been created for each plan for each criteria.

The survey was fielded in November, closer to the end of the year, in order to target ECPs when they have had more time and experience in dealing with the 2012 plans, Jennifer Zupnick of Jobson Research, explained.